How To Find Your Interior Design Style

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PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST

Decorating a new space? It can be really helpful to have a foundational understanding of what styles you like in order to pick a direction to go in with your home styling. Personal tastes are a constant evolution, but if you start writing down the things that you love, you’ll be one step closer to finding your design style.

To get started, our Chicago interior designers have compiled a few steps below to help you get a clearer picture of how to best decorate your home. 

PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST

What Are The Main Design Styles?

There are many design styles and most homes are a combination of several different ones. Here are some of the most popular interior design styles to have on your radar:

PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST

  • Transitional

  • Traditional

  • Eclectic

  • Mid-Century Modern

  • Industrial

  • French Country

  • Modern

  • Bohemian

  • Minimalist

  • Scandinavian

  • Coastal

  • Shabby Chic

Step 1: Look at Your Current Home Decor

PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST

Up until now, you’ve likely bought home decor that you’re attracted to without thinking too much about whether it fits into your interior design style. This organic method of collecting pieces can offer a lot of insight into your tastes, so we recommend taking a look around at your furniture, upholstery, and any other decorations that you currently have. Do you have a love of antiques? Or maybe you prefer modern and minimalist pieces? Consider the colors, textures, and shapes that appeal to you most and write them down. You should start to see a pattern emerge of the type of style you prefer.

Step 2: Consider your Fashion Style

Next, look in your closet! We express ourselves through the clothing we wear, so it makes sense to think about your fashion tastes when decorating your home. For example, if you tend to wear a lot of classic, tailored pieces, you will likely be a fan of a traditional or transitional home style. If your closet is filled with bright colors and bold patterns, you’ll likely want to incorporate a lot of color in your home as well. Conversely, if you wear mainly neutrals, it’s likely that you’ll lean towards a more subdued color palette at home.

Step 3: Take Note of Other Homes You Like

Next, drive around town and make a note of architectural details on other homes that catch your eye. If you’re drawn to a modern home, you may find that you appreciate the clean lines, sharp angles and minimalism associated with the style. Or, if instead you’re drawn to a traditional home, you may find that you appreciate rich colors and ornate details in your home design. The outside and interiors of your home should be in harmony, so it’s to your advantage to get familiar with different architectural features.

Step 4: Get Inspired 

You’re probably already starting to get a sense of what style you like, but there is so much more to be inspired by. Our Chicago interior designers are constantly scouring the internet, home magazines, and social media sites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for new ideas – and we suggest you do the same. You can also take inspiration from your favorite things – whether that is the beach, hiking in the woods, or a hotel you visited in Italy. 

Remember, while we all lean towards one style, your tastes don’t have to fit into a box. Mixing and matching different design elements allows you to create a space that has a naturally collected-over-time feel. Aligning your home style to your tastes not only reflects your personality, but makes your house feel like your home. 

Get in touch with our Chicago interior design firm if you’re having trouble defining your interior design style. We have a variety of services to help bring your home projects to life.

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Talk to you soon,

Paula